May 1st through the 4th will find Reflexologists from across the country and around the world convening at the National Reflexology Conference in Portland, Maine. The conference will be held at the Eastland Park Hotel located on High Street. The Arizona Reflexology Association hosted the RAA Conference in Tucson in 2006.
Events and Speakers
On Thursday, May 1st the Delegate Assembly, representing affiliated State Associations of Reflexology, will hold a delegates-only meeting. This is the time for each of the State Associations to send their current delegates to improve communication between the state and national level associations.
Friday, May 2nd, the Reflexology Association of America will provide a complimentary Leadership Training Workshop for those currently serving or interested in serving on a state or national association committee or board. This training will cover important topics on running an association, forming and building committees, representing reflexology on a state and national level, and much more. The day will end with an Education Forum by the American Commission for Accreditation of Reflexology Education and Training (ACARET). This is an open forum to discuss current education issues for reflexology in the United States.
The Conference will officially begin on Saturday, May 3rd, and features keynote speaker Dr. Gwen Wyatt. Dr. Wyatt, a professor at Michigan State University, will be presenting her research project, "Reflexology: An Intervention for Advanced Breast Cancer". At the end of Saturday, the Maine Council of Reflexologists has coordinated a lobster dinner and local band for a “Wicked Good Night” for conference attendees.
Other speakers at the conference will include Dr. Martine Faure-Alderson from France presenting “Cranio-Sacral Reflexology”; Paul Harvey from Newport Beach, California presenting “Effective Reflexology in a Clinical Setting;” Dan Lobash, PhD, L.Ac from Hemet, California presenting “Korean Hand Therapy;” Lillian Morten, a South African transplant living in Seminole, Florida, will present “Exploring the Diagnosis;” and Bobbi Warren from La Mesa, California is presenting “Foot Reading.”
Post-Conference Events
After the conference multiple workshops have been set up to allow for additional continuing education opportunities while Reflexologists are in town. Dr. Faure-Alderson will hold a multi-level workshop on Cranio-Sacral Reflexology before and after the workshop spanning April 30th to May 8th. The Korean Hand Therapy workshop, instructed by Dan Lobash, will be held May 5-6 as well as Karen Ball’s Thai Foot Reflexology workshop on the same days.
The American Reflexology Certification Board requires nationally certified Reflexologists to receive 12 continuing education units (CEU), or hours, every 24 months. Many in attendance will be able to fulfill their CEU requirements through the conference and the post-conference workshops.
For more information on this conference visit the Reflexology Association of America’s website.
